Finger cot



April 3, 1956 R. K. F. SEIDEL FINGER COT Filed March 2, 1953 United States Patent FINGER COT Robert K. F. Seidel, Danville, 111., assignor to Jess A. Brewer, Danville, Ill.

Application March 2, 1953, Serial N 0. 339,599 1 Claim. (Cl. 221) The present invention relates to finger cots and more particularly to finger cots of leather and the like for industrial use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a finger cot which is safely secured to the finger of the wearer but which is more comfortable to wear than conventional cots. It is a more specific object to provide a finger cot which has increased flexibility and which is free of any tendency to bind around the knuckle. It is also an object to provide a finger cot which accommodates itself to fingers of different size and which, in addition, is inexpensive and long wearing.

It is a further object to provide a novel finger cot in which the drag resulting from the side seams which is characteristic of conventional cots is eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the attached detailed description and to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a general view of a finger cot constructed in accordance with the present invention in position on the finger of the wearer.

Figs. 2 and 3 are side views showing the finger cot respectively straight and bent in grasping position.

Fig. 4 shows the finger cot as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

While the invention has been described herein in terms of a prefererd embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention thereto, but intend to cover all modified or alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Turning now to the drawing, the finger cot has a body portion which covers the entire grasping surface of the finger and which includes an integral tab 11 at one end for protecting the tip of the finger, and a tab 12 at the other end for protecting the groove at the base of the finger. integrally formed with the body 10 of the finger cot are a first pair of lateral extensions 13, 14. The latter are joined together at their edges by steel staples or the like to form a tube for receiving the portion of the finger beyond the knuckle. Also formed integrally with the body of the finger cot are a pair of shorter extensions 17, 18. The body of the finger cot is scalloped out between the extensions 13, 17 and 14, 18 to provide a knuckle space at about the middle of the finger cot. The ends of the extensions 17, 18 are joined by a flat strip of elastic 19, the elastic being dimensioned to hug the first joint of the finger inside of the knuckle. The elastic 19, which may, for example, be elastic webbing, is fastened to the extensions 17, 18 by means of steel staples or the like, as shown in Fig. 5. Preferably, the ends of the elastic are reversely bent prior to the stapling operation so that the edges are directed inwardly. This not only provides strong reinforcement but also prevents fraying on the edges and insures a neat appearance. If desired, the cot may be stitched or cemented rather than stapled together. In either event the fastening means is located inwardly from the edge of the material where it is not only anchored but protected against wear. All of the above-mentioned seams, as shown in the drawing, are of the type in which the edges of the cot material (e. g. leather) are folded outwardly to provide a seam which may be termed inwardly smooth.

In use, the finger cot is slipped into place as shown in Figs. l-3, the elastic 19 lying flatly against the back of the finger and out of contact with the knuckle. Thus when the finger is bent, as shown in Fig. 3, the finger cot bends with a hinge-like action at the scallop without stretching the elastic to any appreciable degree. As a result it is unnecessary to overcome the elastic force whenever the finger is bent, which reduces fatigue in those operations which require frequent bending movement. In addition, the disclosed construction enables the hand and finger to assume a much more normal, semi-grasping position enabling the cot to be worn for long periods without discomfort. The wearer is generally not conscious of the presence of the cot and is therefore more inclined to keep it on all day long, making maximum use of the safety which it affords.

The finger cot gives the feeling of security without unduly tensioning the elastic, and the portion 13, 14 of the finger cot may be left quite loose Without sacrificing safety. This fact, combined with the opening 15 at the knuckle, causes the present finger cot to be much cooler than those conventionally used.

A further advantage of the present design of finger cot is that the seams are all at the back of the finger in an outof-the-way position.

It is to be noted that the tubular portion of the cot extends over practically the entire length of the finger while avoiding the discomfort and binding normally associated with long finger cots. This provides secure anchoring for the integral tabs 11 and 12 so that the finger cot covers two portions of the finger which have frequently been neglected. Not only is more complete protection provided at the tip of the finger, but also the protection extends partially down into the palm, thereby protecting the groove at the base of the finger where loads such as metal plates and the like tend to settle in handling.

Since the knuckle is left free, a greater range of tension may be tolerated. The practical result of this is that one size of finger cot will accommodate itself to a wide range of finger sizes. The design is well adapted for use with leather which is thicker than usual. Under such conditions the scallops may be cut more deeply than shown in order to provide a more pronounced hinging effect.

I claim as my invention:

In a finger cot, the combination comprising a body portion formed of a single blank of leather or the like, said body portion having a first pair of lateral extensions, said extensions being fastened end to end by a central inwardly smooth seam to form an open-ended tube for receiving the portion of the finger lying beyond the knuckle, said body portion having a second pair of lateral extensions shorter than said first pair but sufiiciently long as to cause the ends thereof to lie adjacent the back portion of the finger, and a flat strip of elastic fastened at its ends to the second pair of extensions along respective inwardly smooth seams for grippingly receiving the portion of the finger lying inwardly of the knuckle, the body portion having a deep indentation between the extensions on each side in the form of a smoothly curved scallop leaving the knuckle free so that the finger may be bent through a sharp angle without appreciable stretching of the elastic.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,929 Fowble Jan. 17, 1899 2,461,970 Finegan Feb. 15, 1949 2,538,889 Swarin Jan. 23, 1951 

